Harp



Nov. 20, 1928. 1,692,123

V. HULL I HARP Filed May 18,. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 v 15 V (2,? Hall" 551 Patented Nov. 20, 1928.

UNITED STATES VADE HULL, OF GREAT FALLS, MONTANA.

.HABP.

Application filed May 18,

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in musical instruments, and particularly to musical instruments of the harp type.

One object of the invention is to provide a harp which will be cheap to manufacture, and which can be sold at a cost far below the cost of harps as now constructed.

Another object is to provide a harp of this character which includes novel means for raising the pitch of different strings, whereby to change from one key to another.

Another object is to provide a novel means for raising the pitch of certain strings, to accord with the desired keys, and wherein an indicator is disposed within view of the player, to show the signature or name of the particular key.

Another object is to provide a capo tasto bar and means for operating the same, and which means is capable of operation by the foot of the player to produce a tremolo.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a harp made in accordance with the present invention, partly broken away to show portions of the operating mechanism.

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical transverse sectional view on the line 2 2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary detail perspective view of the capo tasto bar, and a. portion of the means for operating the same.

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the base of the instrument, showing the shafts and gearing.

Figure 5 is an enlarged horizontal sectional View showing several of the pitch raising elements of the strings of the instrument.

Referring particularly to the accompany ing drawings, 10 represents a hollow base on one end of which is mounted the vertical hollow post 11, and on the other end of which is fixed the upwardly inclined sound-box 12.

Extending between the upper end of the sound-box and the upper end of the post, is the compound curved connecting arm, 13, which forms the wrest plate of the instrument, and in which are disposed the tuningpins 14, in which the upper ends of the strings 15 are connected and on which they are wound. Carried by the upper face of the sound-box, and extending throughout the do ma.

1927. Serial No. 192,416.

length thereof is a bar 16 to which the other ends of the strings are attached, as usual. Attached to the upper end of the upper face of the bar 16, and extending to a point adjacent the lower end of said face, is a capo tasto bar 17, a transverse link 18 being pivotally connected to the lower end of the bar, and having its other end pivotally connected to the upturned portion 19, of a rearwardly extending shaft 20. Carried by the rear end of the shaft 20, and projecting laterally from the side of the base 10, is a pedal arm 21, which is adapted to be depressed by the foot of the player, for the purpose of rocking the shaft and moving the bar 17 into contact with the lower ends of the strings, whereby to raise the pitch of all of the strings a half tone. A coil spring 22 is connected at one end to the pedal arm 21, and at its other to the base, for normally holding the bar 17 out of contact with the strings.

Extending longitudinally in the base 10 is a shaft 23, having a gear 24 on its rear end which meshes with a similar gear 25 on a transverse shaft 26, mounted in the rear portion of the base. On the outer end of the shaft 26 there is mounted a pedal arm 27, which is adapted to be moved by the foot of the player to rock the shaft, and transmit rotary motion to the shaft 23. Extendin longitudinally through the post 11 is a sha t 28, the lower end of which is properly geared to the adjacent end of the shaft 23. Mounted in suitable brackets 29, on the arm 13, and inclining downwardly from the post 11, and the upper end of the sound-box 12, respectively, are the shafts 30 and, 31, and disposed horizontally between the lower ends of said shafts, and mounted in brackets 32, is a short shaft 33. The inner ends of the shafts 30 and 31 are provided with bevel gears 34 which mesh with similar gears 35, on the ends of the shaft 33. The upper end of the shaft 30 is connected with a series of universal joints 36, and carried by the outer end one of said joints is a bevel gear 37 which meshes with a similar gear on the upper end of the vertical shaft 28. Thus by depressing or raising the pedal arm 27 motion is transmitted to the shafts 30, 31, and 33. The degree to which these shafts are rotated is regulated by the degree to which the pedal arm 27 is moved in either direction. Formed in the plate 13 are openings 38, there being one arranged a short distance below each of the tuning-pins 14. Slidable in each of these openings 38 is portions of its side edges retained benmth said heads, is a leaf spring 42. The upper end of each of the leaf springs 42 is secured to the plate 13, while the lower end is slidable in av keeper bar 43 mounted on the said plate. A strip 43, and bar 43 hold the springs 42 away from the plate 13, whereby to withdraw the blocks 39 within the openings 38, whereby to hold the head of the shaped members 40 out of contact with the strings. In the inner vertical face, of the upper portion of the post 11, there is formed an elongated vertical opening 44, through which may be seen the drum 45, which is mounted on, and rotates with the vertical shaft 28, said drum having formed thereon the names of, the diderent keys, in which music is written, and whereby the player may readily know when he has set the instrument for the particular key desired. Screwed into the shafts 30, 31, and 83, are a plurality of pins 46, each having in its outer end a small roller 47, and each pin being adjustable into and out of the shaft, whereby to regulate its degree of pressure against the intermediate portion of a leaf spring 42. Suitable stop means 48 are provided for regulating the movement of the pedal arm 27, so that the various shafts will be rotated to the proper degree to cause the appropriate blocks 39 to project their T-shaped members 40 against the strings which are to be raised in pitch. A keeper member 49 is mounted on the side of the base 10, adjacent the pedal arm 22, beneath which the player may move the said arm, to retain the same in such position, when it is desired to maintain the bar 17 in contact with the strings.

From the foregoing it will be particularly noted that a single pedal is used for accomplishing the change of key, throughout the entire range of musical keys, in contradistinction to the ordinary harp where a different pedal is necessary to accomplish a change from one key to another. Also, another novel feature, which is not present in the ordinary harp, is the capo tasto bar, by means of which the entire pitch of the instrument can be raised a half tone. Furthermore, this bar is capable of vibration, by proper operation of the foot of the player, to accomplish a tremolo of the strings.

Another novel feature resides in the provision of the indicator which shows the name of the key, and advises the player to whether he has operated the pedal arm 27 to the proper degree, to effect the change of key.

What is claimed is:

1. In a harp, the combination with the tuning-pin carrying arm and th strings connected therewith, of a block slidably disposed through the arm adjacent each of the st ings, and means for selectively projecting the blocks into pitch raising contact with the appropriate strings.

2. In a harp, the combination with the tuning-pin carrying member and the strings connected therewith, of a slidable block movable through said member into and out of pitch raising contact with a string, a spring member operatively connected with the block for normally holding the latter out of contact with the string, and means for moving the block into contact with the string operable by the player.

3. In a harp, the combination with the tuning-pin carrying member and the strings connected therewith, of a sliding member spring urged out of pitch raising contact with a string, and a rotatable element having means for moving the sliding member into contact with a string.

4. In a harp, the combination with the tunin g-pin carrying member and the strings connected therewith, of a slidable pitch raising member movable through said pin carrying member into and out of contact with a string, means for holding the slidable member away from the string, and a rotatable shaft having a projection adapted to engage and project the slidable member into pitch raising contact with the string.

5. In a harp, the combination with the tuning-pin carrying member and the strings connected therewith, of a block carried by the said member adjacent each of said strings, spring means for normally maintaining the blocks out of contact with the strings, a rotatable shaft, and projections on the shaft for contact with the spring means to move the blocks selectively in groups into contact with the strings.

6. In a harp, the combination with the tuning-pin carrying member and the strings connected therewith, of a block carried by said member adjacent each of said strings, yieldable means for normally maintaining the blocks out of contact with the strings, a rotatable shaft, and projections on the shaft arranged in groups at different circular angles around the shaft for contact with the yieldable means to move the blocks selectively in groups into contact with the strings.

7. In a harp, the combination with the tuning-pin carrying member and the strings con nected therewith, of a block carried by said member adjacent each of said strings, means for normally urging the blocks away from the strings, a rotatable shaft, projections on the shaft for moving the blocks selectively in groups into contact with the strings, and means for rotating the shaft through successive circular angles to successively engage the groups of blocks with the appropriate strings.

8. In a harp, the combination with the tunin g-pin carrying'member and the strings connected therewith, of a block slidable into and out of pitch raising contact with each of the strings, means yieldably urging the blocks out of contact With the strings, a shaft, projections on the shaft arranged in groups dis posed in different circular angles around the shaft for selectively engaging and moving the blocks in groups, and a single operating 'means connected With the shaft for partially VADE HULL. 

